Luna's Prophecy

Chapter 2

“Find her,” Alpha Gray commanded, his voice like steel cutting through the tension in the room. “And bring her to me alive.”

His warriors stood at attention, their postures rigid as the alpha paced before them. The flames from the hearth flickered across his sharp features, casting shadows that mirrored the intensity in his amber eyes.

“Alive, but unharmed,” he repeated, stopping to pin them with a hard stare. “If she is what they say she is, I want her untouched. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Alpha!” the warriors barked in unison.

Gray nodded, satisfied. “Good. You leave at dawn. Dismissed.”

The room emptied quickly, leaving Gray alone with his Beta, Elias, who leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed.

“You’re awfully eager to capture a girl everyone claims is insane,” Elias remarked, his tone teasing but laced with curiosity.

Gray shot him a look. “She’s not insane. She’s a seer.”

“Or a fraud,” Elias countered. “The story goes that she predicted the fire, and no one believed her. Convenient, isn’t it? Who’s left to confirm the tale?”

Gray smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “The truth doesn’t matter, Elias. If she has even a fraction of the power they say she does, she could be the key to crushing the Silverfang Pack and taking their territory.”

Elias raised an eyebrow. “And if she doesn’t?”

Gray’s smirk vanished. “Then she’ll be of no use to anyone.”

****

Freya's breath came in short, sharp gasps as she sprinted through the dense forest, her bare feet slapping against the cold, damp earth. She clutched Eric’s locket tightly, the only thing grounding her in the chaos of her shattered world.

A branch snagged her hair, yanking her head back. She cursed under her breath, tugging herself free and continuing her frantic run. The hunger gnawed at her, and the cold seeped into her bones, but fear drove her forward.

She didn’t know where she was going—only that she had to keep moving.

“I told them,” she whispered to herself, her voice shaking. “I warned them, and now they’re gone. All of them.”

Her stomach growled angrily, and she stumbled to a halt near a cluster of bushes. She dropped to her knees, searching desperately for anything edible.

“Berries,” she muttered, her fingers closing around a handful of small, dark fruits. “Please don’t be poisonous.”

She hesitated only a moment before popping them into her mouth, wincing at the bitter taste. They weren’t enough to fill the void in her stomach, but at least they dulled the worst of the ache.

The snap of a twig behind her made her freeze.

Freya's heart pounded as she slowly turned her head, her eyes scanning the shadows. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of birds and rustling leaves conspicuously absent.

“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice trembling.

Silence.

“I-I’m warning you,” she stammered, rising to her feet. “I have—” She paused, realizing she had no weapon, no way to defend herself.

Another snap.

This time, the sound was closer.

Freya backed away, her hands shaking. “Please,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Just leave me alone.”

A figure stepped out from the shadows, tall and broad-shouldered. His face was obscured by a hood, but the gleam of his eyes was unmistakable.

“Found you,” the man said, his voice low and menacing.

Freya's instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs felt like lead. “Who are you? What do you want?”

The man didn’t answer. Instead, he advanced on her, his movements deliberate and predatory.

“Stay back!” Freya shouted, panic rising in her chest.

The man lunged, and she turned to flee, her bare feet slipping on the damp ground. She barely made it a few steps before he caught her, his strong arms wrapping around her like a vice.

“Let me go!” she screamed, thrashing against him.

“Stop struggling,” he growled. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Liar!” Freya twisted, sinking her teeth into his arm.

The man cursed, loosening his grip just enough for her to break free. She stumbled forward, adrenaline surging as she sprinted deeper into the forest.

“Get back here!” he shouted, the sound of his pursuit echoing behind her.

Freya pushed herself harder, her lungs burning and her legs screaming in protest. But no matter how fast she ran, he was faster.

A heavy weight slammed into her back, and she hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from her lungs.

“Enough!” the man barked, pinning her wrists above her head.

Freya glared up at him, her chest heaving. “Who are you? What do you want with me?”

“Alpha Gray has ordered your capture,” he said bluntly.

Her blood ran cold. “Why? I’m no one!”

The man’s eyes narrowed. “You’re the girl who saw the fire. The seer.”

Freya shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t mean for it to happen! I swear, I didn’t!”

The man’s grip tightened. “That’s not for me to decide. My orders are to bring you to him.”

“Please,” Freya begged, her voice breaking. “I can’t go with you. I can’t…”

The man hesitated, his gaze flickering with something that might have been pity. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

“You don’t have a choice,” he said firmly.

Freya sagged beneath him, her strength gone. “I don’t want this,” she whispered. “I never asked for this.”

The man didn’t respond. He hauled her to her feet, binding her wrists with a length of rope.

“Let’s go,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As he led her through the forest, Freya's mind raced. What did Alpha Gray want with her?